Hebrew Word Study
Bat בת Hebrew Meaning
Bat (בת) means “daughter” in Hebrew — one of the most ancient and foundational words in the language. From bat mitzvah to bat Zion, this two-letter word carries immense significance in Jewish life.
Look Up Any Girl's Name →Letter by Letter
Bat (בת): Two Letters, Deep Meaning
The word bat is made of just two Hebrew letters, yet these two letters span the entire alphabet:
Bet
2nd letter
Value: 2
Means “house”
Tav
22nd (last) letter
Value: 400
Means “sign” or “mark”
Gematria
Bet (ב), meaning “house,” is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Tav (ת), meaning “sign” or “mark,” is the last. Together they suggest that a daughter is both the “house” — the foundation of the home — and the “sign” — a mark of blessing and continuity.
Compound Words
Where Bat Appears in Hebrew
Hebrew uses bat to form many compound expressions and names. In each case, “daughter of” conveys belonging, origin, or spiritual kinship:
Daughter of the commandment — a girl's coming of age
Daughter of Zion — poetic name for Jerusalem
Daughter of a voice — divine echo in the Talmud
Daughter of the oath — Bathsheba, mother of Solomon
Daughter of God — name given to Pharaoh's daughter
Daughter of the sea — also a modern Israeli city
Hebrew vs. Aramaic
Bat vs. Bar: Hebrew and Aramaic
You may notice that bar mitzvah uses bar (son) while bat mitzvah uses bat (daughter). This is because bar is the Aramaic word for son, while bat is Hebrew. The term “bar mitzvah” originates in the Aramaic-language Talmud, so it preserved the Aramaic bar. When the parallel ceremony for girls was created in the 20th century, the Hebrew bat was used instead.
In Hebrew, the male equivalent of bat is ben (בן), meaning son. The Aramaic equivalent of bat is brat (ברת). These words share a common Semitic root.
Find a Hebrew Name for Your Daughter
Every Hebrew girl's name carries a meaning, a gematria value, and a story. Explore hundreds of names — from biblical heroines to modern Israeli favorites.
